Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314-503-0003, SNAPdorris@gmail.com)

In Geneva today, the United Nations Committee Against Torture harshly criticized top Catholic officials for endangering kids and specifically cited an Australian case in which an archbishop refused to cooperate with civil authorities about child sex crimes.

"Despite Objections and Early Pressure from Vatican Officials, Committee Takes on Church Policies and Practices That Enable Widespread Sexual Violence by Clergy"

May 23, 2014, New York, Geneva – Today, the United Nations Committee Against Torture found that the widespread sexual violence within the Catholic church amounted to torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment prohibited by theUnited Nations Convention Against Torture.

Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314-503-0003, SNAPdorris@gmail.com)

A new United Nations committee report harshly criticizes top Catholic officials for endangering kids and specifically cites the case of a Polish archbishop who is accused of molesting children in Poland and the Dominican Republic.

For the second time this year, an international panel of experts is harshly criticizing the Catholic hierarchy for endangering children. We are grateful that more secular authorities are finally stepping up to safeguard children from powerful Catholic officials who commit and conceal devastating and widespread sexual violence against children. We hope this trend continues.

Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314-503-0003, SNAPdorris@gmail.com)

A Catholic church official, who taught abuse prevention in the New York City archdiocese, is charged with child pornography. His alleged crimes have led to the arrest of 71 individuals on child sex charges. This raises concerns about the church's abuse programs and who runs them.